Improvement in car-couplings



R. A. KELLY.

CAR-COUPLING. 31,947 j l i, Patented. Sept.5,1876.

wnuzssgs,

- ATTORNEYS.

N.FETERS. PHDTO LITHOGRAFNERI WASHINGTON, D c,

UNITED STATES PATENLQFFIGE.

RICHARD A. KELLY, OF I MANCHESTER, 'IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,947, datedSeptember 5, 1876; application filed July 25, 1876.

of Manchester, in the county of Delaware and I State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and Improved Oar-Ooupling; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention belongs to the class of antomatic car-couplings, and ismore particularly an improvement in the same line as the couplingdescribed in the patent based upon application A, filed simultaneouslywith this, and to which reference is made for fuller statement of thegeneral construction, function, and operation of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figurel is a front elevation of the coupling devices as applied to a car, andin position for engaging with corresponding devices attached to anothercar.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus complete, showing the respectiveparts engaged. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing the lever supported uponthe catch or bracket.

In this instance I employ arrow-head coupling-bars A and draw-heads B,the latter having a scoop-shaped mouth, which is cut away on the upperside, and provided with a vertical notch or open slot, at, leading intoan enlarged cavity or chamber, b, Fig. 2, the latter being designed toreceive the heads of the said bars A.

The barsand draw-heads are suspended free at the front end from thelevers 0, and their shanks 0 pass through eyes formed on the ends of anevener or vibrating bar, D, pivoted in rear of the ordinary buffers E,and are encircled by spiral springs F, which serve to relieve the shockdue to sudden application of traction by the locomotive.

In passing around curves the evener B will assume a greater or lessangle to the shanks c of the coupling-bars and draw-heads, thussubjecting the springs F to unequal pressure on their respective innerand outer sides. To provide a bearing for the said springs which shallremain at right angles to the shanks c, whatever may be the inclinationof the evener thereto, I provide weighted washers G, having anangle-shaped back and flat or plain face. The object of weighting thewashers is to cause them to maintain a vertical position,

for if the angle of the back were to assume a horizontal position, it isobvious the face of the washers would then be inclined at the same angleas the evener, and, consequently, fail of performance of their function.

The levers O are pivoted at their middle to the ends of the car,directly above the ordinary bufl'ers E, and the ends of the same whichproject beyond the sides of the car are enlarged or broadened, and will,in practice, be painted white, or with some other easilydistinguishedcolor, in orderthat the operator may the more readily discover when anyone of the levers is out of line with the others,- and thereby know whenany one of the several couplings of a train is not properly made.

I also attach handles d to these broadened ends, to facilitate theoperation of the levers by an operator standing at the side of the car.The levers 0 may also be operated from the platform or top of a box-carby meansot' a sliding and rotating rod, 1, having a hook or arm, 6, atits lower end to raise the lever, and a flange or wing, f, to displaceit from the bracket or support K. The latter has a shoulder, g, and hookh, the one to support the lever, and the other to prevent it beingraised too high. A spring, L, serves to hold the lever supported on theshoulder of the bracket.

When the lever is horizontal the draw-head and coupling-bar supportedtherefrom'are also held horizontal, and in position for coupling withthose of another car.

When the lever is detached from the bracket K the weight of thedraw-head overba l ances the coupling-bar, and. efl'ects the uncouplingof the cars, the draw-head-in such case dropping, and the coupling-barsrising and freeing themselves from the open slots 0. in the same.

When two cars come together the arrowheads of the coupling-bars arecentered by the large concavity of the draw-heads, and also guided totheir place, so as to engage with the shoulders of the open slot or.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, ofthe Weighted anglebacked washerswith the springs, evener, and

- coupling-bars and draw-heads, as 'shown and described, for the purposespecified.

2. The combination of the levers O, the

, coupling-bars and draw-head supported therefrom, the sliding androtating rod I, having arm e and wing f, and the bracket K, con-

